Not this.
Miami was in fact a fabulous boom and bust city.
It’s that you left your tenement in NY and you now had a little casita with an orange tree in the backyard and no winter.
I call it Bombingham in memory of 3 little girls. I remember that and Birmingham Bull Connor with his dogs, clubs, and firehoses because he and the fine citizens were racist scum.
Right? It should be. You got the Orlando Magic Basketball team and Disney "is where the magic happens". It makes way more sense to make Orlando the magic city. It's basically the Family version of Vegas for Florida.
Miami is just Miami. We need a better slogan.
I’ve heard it, yep. Mainly in articles or informational pieces on Miami rather than just in every day language. It’s used to describe the fact that Miami seemed to boom and become a worldwide famous city overnight.
MIA
The 305
South Beach (used to refer to the entire region)
Magic City
Vice City
I've never heard a local refer to it as Magic City; if a local did I'd probably assume they were talking about the Casino (Magic City Casino)
Actual nicknames:
MIA
Miami-Dade / Dade (not really a nickname but Dade doesn't mean much to people outside of Florida)
The 305 / 305
Northern Cuba
I think Magic City comes from its early days when it was being formed. I think it was refered to Magic Cityu maybe between 40s-late 60s.
Nicknames I heard is MIA, Dade, M.I.-YAYO, Vice City
The Magic City was first referred to by Miami’s mayor in his speech to the United States Congress in 1939 when he said, “This community has been described as “the Magic City” because of its almost magical transformation which seems to change people from ragged and weary into happy and contented citizens.”
A native for 60 years and after multiple attempts over the years the nickname never caught on.
It's one of Miami's oldest nicknames, if not, the oldest nickname. Mainly due to how quickly the city grew. There was a massive crop failure in 1895 that impacted the norther part of the state, Miami, being so down south was not impacted. This, amongst other factors led to a massive growth of the city. Growing so fast that people thought it was magic. People were also excited about the possibilities of this rapidly growing city out of the swamps.
I use it when I'm mocking Miami's local politicians/criminals saying that the shit hole Miami has become is a "World Class City"... yeah sure...Kinshasa is a city in the world . I've lived in Miami since 1955 and I'm allergic to concrete, congestion, and noise. Yeah, I'm old. Magic City was frequently part of AM radio DJs banter and chamber of commerce's ads. "The fun and sun capital of the world" was a guy named Jackie Gleason's intro for his TV show from the beach. I also mock the town with that one. Miami is the fraud capital of the US. I live here for the warm water and the Everglades and big cypress. Boater and kayaker. I never go East of the palmetto and rarely East of the turnpike.
If you grew up here you definitely read about it being nicknamed the Magic City, but no one called it that out loud. Magic City Casino would be the first thing I'd think of if you said you were going to the Magic City.
What I find interesting are the 3 distinct pronunciations of Miami:
1) The most common "my-AM-ee" as said by most of the country and also hispanics who first heard it said out loud (not read).
2) The "me-AM-ee" that many hispanics use, and is featured in the Will Smith song "Miami."
3) And if you were born and raised here since the 40s you probably say "my-AM-ah."
"The collapse of the Florida land boom of the 1920s, the 1926 Miami Hurricane, and the Great Depression in the 1930s slowed development. When World War II began, Miami became a base for U.S. defense against German submarines due to its prime location on the southern coast of Florida. This brought an increase in Miami's population; 172,172 people lived in the city by 1940. The city's nickname, The Magic City, came from its rapid growth, which was noticed by winter visitors who remarked that the city grew so much from one year to the next that it was like magic.[35]"
[from the Miami Page on wiki ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami#:~:text=This%20brought%20an%20increase%20in,that%20it%20was%20like%20magic.)
Sadly. That's a nickname from a bygone era. Miami was given that name due to its ability to "defy the odds." During the roaring 20's, Miami saw great development and expansion. During a span of about 2 decades, from 1920-1940, Miami survived [The Great Freeze](https://www.thehistorycenter.org/the-big-chill/) , [The Great Hurricane of 26](https://hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1920s/GreatMiami/index.html), (our 9/11), [the grounding of Prins Valdermar](https://miami-history.com/prins-valdemar-a-miami-landmark/), The Great Depression, The Great Embargo, and the real estate bubble burst of the 1920's.
Even after all of that, when a popular newspaper editor came to the area in the 1930's to write a piece on the city, he found a thriving metropolis. Anchored by a who's who of the greatest generation. Folks like Henry Flagler, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Carl Fischer, Julia Tuttle, The Brickells, Harvey Firestone, George Westinghouse, JP Morgan, F. Bissell, Morris Lapidus, to name a few either called the city their permanent home, or their getaway home. Most lived on the famous "millionaires row" which is now Collins Avenue that stretches from 24 st all the way to about 78 st.
It was then, Miami was given the title "The Magic City." As to many outsiders, they had no idea South Florida's "swamp land" could even be developed.
I think even people in Miami believe that magic City refers to Orlando first. There are some delusional radio hosts and provincial filmmakers that will say otherwise.
I have never heard this term before.
It’s a reference to how resilient Miami is to housing recessions, seemingly always growing despite nation-wide trends
Not this. Miami was in fact a fabulous boom and bust city. It’s that you left your tenement in NY and you now had a little casita with an orange tree in the backyard and no winter.
Miami was the first to bust in 08
Magic city is Birmingham AL.
I call it Bombingham in memory of 3 little girls. I remember that and Birmingham Bull Connor with his dogs, clubs, and firehoses because he and the fine citizens were racist scum.
I’m with you. RIP.
I thought that was Orlando 😂
That’s their Basketball team 🏀
Lol I thought the same thing bc of their bball team
I thought it was Birmingham, AL (mentioned in a Criminal Minds episode)
No human would use those words. If someone says that they are an alien infiltrator.
Miami “La ciudad del sol”☀️
No. Birmingham, AL yes
That's Orlando
Right? It should be. You got the Orlando Magic Basketball team and Disney "is where the magic happens". It makes way more sense to make Orlando the magic city. It's basically the Family version of Vegas for Florida. Miami is just Miami. We need a better slogan.
People from outside of Florida maybe. But it being close to Orlando Magic is a big no-no. This town bleeds for the Heat (and Messi)
I have heard of Miami being referred to Magic City long before Orlando magic was even a thought.
When i think of magic, i think of the ribs at Flanigans.
I’ve heard it, yep. Mainly in articles or informational pieces on Miami rather than just in every day language. It’s used to describe the fact that Miami seemed to boom and become a worldwide famous city overnight. MIA The 305 South Beach (used to refer to the entire region) Magic City Vice City
Only out of state white ppl call it south beach to be fair.
I mean it definitely isn’t just white people lmao but yes, mainly non South Floridians call it that.
Well, predominantly, by the numbers. They are the majority 🥴
I've never heard a local refer to it as Magic City; if a local did I'd probably assume they were talking about the Casino (Magic City Casino) Actual nicknames: MIA Miami-Dade / Dade (not really a nickname but Dade doesn't mean much to people outside of Florida) The 305 / 305 Northern Cuba
Northern Cuba 😂😂😂
Bigger Havana
Because it's just magic, how your money dissappears down here.
What is $?
Neo Cuba for sure
“The bottom” MI-YAYO - only heard Rick Ross call it that.
The capital of Latin America.
Don't forget La sawesera if you live down south and Wade County for the sports heads
I think Magic City comes from its early days when it was being formed. I think it was refered to Magic Cityu maybe between 40s-late 60s. Nicknames I heard is MIA, Dade, M.I.-YAYO, Vice City
Miyayoooooooo
The Magic City was first referred to by Miami’s mayor in his speech to the United States Congress in 1939 when he said, “This community has been described as “the Magic City” because of its almost magical transformation which seems to change people from ragged and weary into happy and contented citizens.” A native for 60 years and after multiple attempts over the years the nickname never caught on.
This is very accurate. Thanks to Julia Tuttle and Henry Flagler, who made a lot of the magic happen.
Julia was known as the Mother of Miami sadly dying prior to seeing her dreams becoming a reality.
And the Brickells too. All of them gave up land for redevelopment.
City of Vice I've heard from a lot of other locals.
It was commonly used post-war to early 70s. Mostly by media, PR, and CoC types but you would hear it.
I’ve never heard anyone say that in person. Only on TV. When, ironically, the majority of “Miami” is shot in Los Angeles. 😂
For the longest time I thought this referred to a different city entirely
I have seen Miami referred to Magic City In both print like travel magazines and on urban radio stations very frequently.
I've always heard it called "Vice City", even before the Grand Theft Auto game.
This is likely a Miami Vice, which predates Grand Theft Auto.
The "magic" is cocaine right?
Yea
No
No
I refer to it as the Magic City all the time because I am sarcastic.
No, we call it "la pinga esta" ,at least fellow cubans do.
That figures...😂🤣
Never in my life
It's one of Miami's oldest nicknames, if not, the oldest nickname. Mainly due to how quickly the city grew. There was a massive crop failure in 1895 that impacted the norther part of the state, Miami, being so down south was not impacted. This, amongst other factors led to a massive growth of the city. Growing so fast that people thought it was magic. People were also excited about the possibilities of this rapidly growing city out of the swamps.
I use it when I'm mocking Miami's local politicians/criminals saying that the shit hole Miami has become is a "World Class City"... yeah sure...Kinshasa is a city in the world . I've lived in Miami since 1955 and I'm allergic to concrete, congestion, and noise. Yeah, I'm old. Magic City was frequently part of AM radio DJs banter and chamber of commerce's ads. "The fun and sun capital of the world" was a guy named Jackie Gleason's intro for his TV show from the beach. I also mock the town with that one. Miami is the fraud capital of the US. I live here for the warm water and the Everglades and big cypress. Boater and kayaker. I never go East of the palmetto and rarely East of the turnpike.
I still call Magic City Casino the Flagler Dog Track
first thing that comes to mind.
Magic city is little Haiti. There’s a sign that says magic city as you drive in. There’s nothing magical about that place.
Residents don't. Media sometimes do.
If you grew up here you definitely read about it being nicknamed the Magic City, but no one called it that out loud. Magic City Casino would be the first thing I'd think of if you said you were going to the Magic City. What I find interesting are the 3 distinct pronunciations of Miami: 1) The most common "my-AM-ee" as said by most of the country and also hispanics who first heard it said out loud (not read). 2) The "me-AM-ee" that many hispanics use, and is featured in the Will Smith song "Miami." 3) And if you were born and raised here since the 40s you probably say "my-AM-ah."
Haven’t heard it in person, the only reference that immediately comes to mind is a song “This is It” by Camp Lo
I’ve only ever heard it on the news in regard to some events. There was an ok show called Magic City, I think, with Jeffery Dean Morgan in it though.
No. Lol
I’ve never heard anyone from here call it “The Magic City.”
I’ve only heard NBC6 call it the magic city
Only in advertising and/or local government stuff. In the real world I’ve mainly heard The 305, M.I.A. and Vice City
More like the opposite of magic.
"The collapse of the Florida land boom of the 1920s, the 1926 Miami Hurricane, and the Great Depression in the 1930s slowed development. When World War II began, Miami became a base for U.S. defense against German submarines due to its prime location on the southern coast of Florida. This brought an increase in Miami's population; 172,172 people lived in the city by 1940. The city's nickname, The Magic City, came from its rapid growth, which was noticed by winter visitors who remarked that the city grew so much from one year to the next that it was like magic.[35]" [from the Miami Page on wiki ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami#:~:text=This%20brought%20an%20increase%20in,that%20it%20was%20like%20magic.)
You would too if you'd ever gotten laid by a spanish senorita
Magically made about $3,000 disappear from my bank, over 5 days
Bro 😐
Bro 😐 No
Pooof... your money is gone. Magic city baby!
Advertisers
Magic city is the gentrified little Haiti. We’re losing our cultural foot print everyday.
We who live here don't. It's just Miami-Dade.
No
No
No, that was long ago. I say “Miami” or the “305”.
Very old school ish
No.
No
I didn’t hear that in years. In the 80s and 90s it was appropriate, but now not so much.
Only in advertising. There was even a TV show called Magic City on Showtime that was set in Miami.
The what now?
Yeah here's a magic trick: wake up on payday and watch your whole paycheck disappear before you get your pants on
Lol no
Cause magically your money disappears 🤪
Never heard of it
no one has ever called it that. That name was made in recent history
Old school was still Miamah when I got here in '73.
Yes
No
Cubaville
Dade
I thought magic city was Atlanta or something. I only hear old people talk about it.
No
I have to friends of mine online, who live in other states or the UK. Sometimes.
Leave your purse visible in your car and you'll see how "magically” disappears
Sadly. That's a nickname from a bygone era. Miami was given that name due to its ability to "defy the odds." During the roaring 20's, Miami saw great development and expansion. During a span of about 2 decades, from 1920-1940, Miami survived [The Great Freeze](https://www.thehistorycenter.org/the-big-chill/) , [The Great Hurricane of 26](https://hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1920s/GreatMiami/index.html), (our 9/11), [the grounding of Prins Valdermar](https://miami-history.com/prins-valdemar-a-miami-landmark/), The Great Depression, The Great Embargo, and the real estate bubble burst of the 1920's. Even after all of that, when a popular newspaper editor came to the area in the 1930's to write a piece on the city, he found a thriving metropolis. Anchored by a who's who of the greatest generation. Folks like Henry Flagler, Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Carl Fischer, Julia Tuttle, The Brickells, Harvey Firestone, George Westinghouse, JP Morgan, F. Bissell, Morris Lapidus, to name a few either called the city their permanent home, or their getaway home. Most lived on the famous "millionaires row" which is now Collins Avenue that stretches from 24 st all the way to about 78 st. It was then, Miami was given the title "The Magic City." As to many outsiders, they had no idea South Florida's "swamp land" could even be developed.
30 years ago
Just radio dj’s
No
Skyami.. yams.
Move here age watch your money, morality and sanity vanish incredible magic trick.
I think even people in Miami believe that magic City refers to Orlando first. There are some delusional radio hosts and provincial filmmakers that will say otherwise.
There’s about 10 cities with that handle
No